North Wilder

North Wilder Lake is a 99 acre soft-water lake in the Kawishiwi River watershed. It lies within the roadless area and airspace reservation zone of the Superior National Forest and is surrounded by 85% federal land and 15% state owned land. Access can be gained by portage from the surrounding lakes or from the Kawishiwi River. The lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet, and a median depth of 8 feet, 89% (89 acres) of the lake is shallower than 15 feet. There are two inlets and an outlet. The beaver have built dams in the outlet and the main inlet, blocking access to spawning facilities for Walleye and Northern Pike. The area surrounding the very irregular shoreline consists mainly of bedrock with birch, aspen and pine forest cover. The shoal water soils consist chiefly of boulder and muck with some ledgerock. There are some marsh areas, mainly along the inlets and outlet. The shoreline is undeveloped. At the time of the survey there was sufficient dissolved oxygen to sustain fish life to a depth of 14 feet. The water had a brown bog stain which limited the secchi disc reading to 4 feet. Aquatic vegetation is quite sparse with the emergent vegetation found along much of the shoreline in the narrow shoal area and the submerged vegetation is found in the shoal areas of the protected bays. Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill and Rock Bass were the gamefish taken in test netting. White Sucker, Yellow Perch and Iowa Darter were also taken. Spawniing facilities are rated "good" for Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass, "fair" for Walleye and "poor" for Largemouth Bass and centrarchid panfish. The survey crew found fishing quite good for Walleye and Northern Pike at the time of the survey. A local resident reports that he has taken a number of large Walleye from the lake by angling in the past.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch in North Wilder. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for North Wilder. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

North Wilder has a maximum depth of 25 feet and a mean depth of 8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in North Wilder is from 1966. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for North Wilder in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

No — North Wilder has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide walleye and sauger limit is: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.